One of my biggest frustrations is that pass that seemingly every world religion receives from the media in the United States except for Christianity.  Criticism of Islam is wholly unacceptable.  Atheism, naturalism, agnosticism, pantheism, Hinduism – they’re all off the table, too.  But Christianity?  Not so much.  It faces more criticism than any other faith system bar none.  Jesus’ words in John 15 give us a clue as to why this is.  He warns us that people will hate us because of Him.  He came into the world and was crucified because he upset their religious system.  Jesus wasn’t a murderer or a thief.  In fact, he did many good things, like healing people.  What turned others against him was his challenging of the foundations upon which they were building their lives.  And that was enough to make them kill him.  Christians received a pass for a long time in the United States, but I’m not sure how much longer that pass is going to exist.  In the midst of the trials that Jesus promised would be present, thankfully we can find courage in the knowledge that He has overcome the world.